Modern Finance in action: Unlocking value through digital business partnering
Finance’s position within modern businesses is being redefined. The pace of change—from global disruption to AI breakthroughs—has pushed traditional FP&A models to their limits. It’s no longer enough to report what happened last quarter. To stay relevant, we need to become proactive partners who influence strategy and drive real business outcomes.
That’s the core message behind the new eBook I co-authored with Jedox’s Tim Caudill: “How digital business partnering and AI power transformative FP&A”. Whether you’re leading a Finance team or just starting your transformation journey, the eBook provides a practical blueprint for evolving your role and impact.
Exploring the evolution of Finance business partnering
One of the key concepts we explore is the shift from transactional reporting to true Finance business partnering. This shift requires more than just new tools—it demands a new mindset. Modern Finance leaders must master four capabilities:
- Creating visibility: We must move beyond static reports to highlight key trends and performance drivers in ways that enable fast, informed decision-making.
- Simplifying and questioning: Our job isn’t just to compile data—it’s to distill it into clear narratives and challenge assumptions with thoughtful, business-oriented questions.
- Driving accountability: Instead of just reporting results, we need to engage stakeholders, highlight outliers, and help drive continuous improvement.
- Influencing and empowering: Our unique cross-functional view enables us to connect silos and guide teams toward shared goals like sustainable growth and profitability.
Throughout the eBook, we pair these concepts with actionable examples and strategies. You’ll learn how to pilot digital business partnering with your team, transition from manual spreadsheets to cloud-based collaboration, and gradually introduce AI in ways that enhance trust and transparency.
We also break down how to apply driver-based planning, build a digital business twin, and leverage AI to automate variance analysis, forecast performance, and surface insights in real time. These aren’t theoretical ideas—they’re proven approaches I’ve used personally and seen transform Finance teams across industries.
But perhaps the most important message is this: Transformation starts with people. Tools help—but trust, communication, and curiosity are what truly move the needle. If Finance wants a seat at the strategic table, we must earn it by showing we understand the business and can help make it better.
If this resonates with you, you can download the eBook or watch the on-demand webinar. Whether you’re optimizing existing processes or laying the foundation for AI, this is your chance to lead the change—confidently and collaboratively.
